In each poem, I want to create a snapshot of childhood and how girls navigate in the world. I’m going to take time to think back on what was important to me back then.
Author: wordancerblog
I am currently an ELA Curriculum Coordinator (JPK-5th grade) and have been an educator for 40 years. Over the years, I've worked with students in pre-school to 12th grade. The power of story, creativity, and curiosity have kept teaching and learning exciting and new. I'm always looking forward to the next chapter!
What Little Girls are Made of
When I walk down the corridors, I am greeted by a variety of girls, ages three to eleven. They wear colorful leggings, light-up sneakers, unicorn headbands, wild curls and long twisted braids. They come in all shapes, shades, and sizes. And they are the hope we need in this world, especially right now.
Writing to Entertain
It's Wednesday, time for Kindergarten writing workshop. I have a hop in my step as I walk down the hall towards the Kindergarten classroom. I open the door, and the teacher rushes over to tell me that she desperately needs my help.
Problem Solver
Problem solver. That is who I am. That is who I am at the core of my being, of my soul. I’m not sure if that’s because I faced daunting problems in my childhood that I felt compelled to fix.
Fly Like a Bird
March is on the verge of bestowing full green upon the world. I can hear it in the birds that perch above my feeder, bright flashes of blue and red, wonderful displays of white-tipped browns and grays.
Sacred Trees
In my search of rest, I often find solace in trees. I find comfort in their sturdy trunks and the variations of their bark – molted gray-green, bumpy brown, spectacular white. Their branches reach high to the heaven and bend with the wind.
Sacred Rest
Walking through the winter gauntlet that is January and February, I have been on the hunt for rest, not just sleep but rest – physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and sensory.
The Most Beautiful Thing
I know that when Deborah tells me that I will love a book, I need to take her seriously. In the nineteen years I’ve known her, she has never steered me wrong. She has a unique gift for being able to match books to readers.
Finding my Way
Writing Craft: Wrist Pillows
It was a joyous afternoon. The girls practiced making underhand curves with their new pencils, while small groups came to the crafting table to fill bags with rice, wrap the bags with fabric, and tie the ends with colorful ribbons.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 